Combination opener and spout for a paper carton



Dec. 8, 1964 G. E. BURNETT 3,160,322

COMBINATION OPENER AND SPOUT FOR A PAPER CARTON Filed Sept. 11, 1962 INVENTOR.

United States Patent M 3,160,322 COMBINATION OPENER AND SPOUT FOR A PAPER CARTON George Eugene Burnett, 1020 Josephine St.,

Marinette, Wis. Filed Sept. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 222,870 Claims. (Cl. 222-88) The present invention relates to paper cartons such as are used to contain milk and other commodities, and in particular to a combination spout and opener for such a paper carton.

Presently in use are paper cartons of the type having a pyramidal top fabricated of folds of the upper end portions of the carton, such folds being provided with a portion which may be extended outwardly to form a spout. The use of such a carton is limited by the fact that the folds which form the spout seldom are refoldable to close the upper end of the carton completely against the admission thereinto of air, insects or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination opener and spout for such a carton, the opener being provided with a closure member which entirely seals the upper end of the carton when in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination opener and spout for a paper carton having a pyramidal top which combination opener and spout has opposed hand grip means for use by the person handling the carton in order that the carton not slip from his fingers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination opener and spout for a paper carton having a pyramidal top which is sanitary in use, one sturdy in construction, one which may be fabricated of plastic or the like at reasonable cost, and one which is highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantagesof the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the combination opener and spout of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view with a portion broken away,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing the combination opener and spout installed upon the upper end portion of a paper carton, the lower end portion of the carton being broken away, and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 4 taken at right angles to FIGURE 4.

With reference to the drawing in detail, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the combination opener and spout for a paper carton having a pyramidal closed top is designated generally by the reference numeral and it includes a multi-sided horizontally disposed frame 12 of a size to receivably engage therein the portion of an upright paper carton 14 (FIG- URES 4 and 5) adjacent the upper end of the latter.

Means, embodying inwardly and upwardly sloping tabs 16 rise from the upper end of the frame 12 and engage the sloping top 18 of the carton 14.

An upwardly sloping tubular element 20 is disposed so as to have the portion adjacent the lower end below the upper end of and within the frame 12 and the portion adjacent the upper end extending above the frame 12, such lower and upper portions being designated by the numerals 22 and 24, respectively.

The tubular element 20 is supported upon the frame 12 and is formed integrally therewith.

The lower end of the portion 22 of the element 20 is 3,160,322 Patented Dec. 8, 1964' cut on a slope and is provided with a knife edge, as at 26 in FIGURE 4.

The portion 22 is also provided with an opening 28 adjacent to and spaced from the knife edge 26.

A closure member 30 having a lip 32 is hingedly connected by a hinge 34 opposite the lip 32 to the upper end portion 24 of the tubular element 20. The closure member 30 normally extends over and closes the upper end of the tubular element 20.

Opposed sides of the frame 12 are provided with outstanding ribs 36 providing a hand grip means for grasping the frame 12 and the enclosed carton 14 by the fingers of the hand of a user when it is desired to pour something from the carton 14.

The wall 38 of the frame 12 opposite to the tubular element 20 is provided with a cutaway portion 40 and the lower ends of the walls 42 and 44 on each side of the wall 38 are cutaway at a slope, indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 4 by the reference numeral 46.

In use the combination opener and spout of the present invention is with ease and facility slipped over the upper end of the carton 14 and the knife edge 26 is em ploycd to sever the sloping top 18 so that the interior of the tubular element 29 is in communication with the interior of the carton 14.

The closure member 30 normally extends over the upper end of the element 20 and closes the top but the pressure of a finger on the lip 32 to raise the closure member 30 opens the carton for pouring of its contents out of the upper end portion 24 of the element 20.

The ribs 36 on the sides of the frame 12 make it easy to grasp the carton and maneuver the same for pouring purposes.

While only a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, other embodiments of the invention are contemplated, and numerous changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination opener and spout for a paper carton having a pyramidal closed top comprising a multi-sided horizontally disposed frame having an opened top and bottom and being of a size to receivably engage therein the portion of the paper carton adjacent the top thereof, means rising from the upper end of said frame adapted to engage said top of the paper carton so as to support said frame on said paper carton, a tubular element disposed so as to have the portion adjacent one end thereof below the upper end of and within said frame and the portion adjacent the other end thereof extending above said frame, said element being supported on said frame, the lower end portion of said tubular element being provided with a knife edge, and a closure member hingedly connected to the upper end of said tubular element and normally extending over the upper end of said tubular element.

2. A combination opener and spout for a paper carton having a pyramidal closed top comprising a multisided horizontally disposed frame having an opened top and bottom and being of a size to receivably engage therein the portion of the paper carton adjacent the top thereof, means rising from the upper end of said frame adapted to engage said top of the paper carton so as to support said frame on said paper carton, an upwardly sloping tubular element disposed so as to have the portion adjacent one end thereof below the upper end of and within said frame and the portion adjacent the other end thereof extending above said frame, said tubular element being supported on said frame, the lower end portion of said tubular element being provided with a knife edge, and a closure member hingedly connected to the upper end of said tubular element, and normally extending over the upper end of said tubular element 3. A combination opener and spout for a paper-carton the portion of the paper carton adjacent the top: thereof,

means rising from the upper end of said frame adapted to engage said top of the paper carton so as to support said frame on said paper carton, an upwardly sloping tubular element disposed so as to have the portion adjacent one end thereof below the upper end of and within said frame and the portion adjacent the other end thereof extending above said frame, said tubular element being supported on said frame, the lower end portion of said tubular element being provided with a slopingknifeedge and with an opening adjacent to and spaced from said knife edge, and a closure member hingedly' connected to the upper end of said tubular element and normally extending over the upper end of said tubular element.

4. A combination opener and spout for a paper carton having a pyramidal closed top comprising a multi -sided horizontally disposed frame having an opened top and bottom and being of a size to receivably engage therein the portion of the paper carton adjacent the top thereof,

means embodying inwardly sloping tabs rising from the portion adjacent the other end thereof extending above said frame, said tubular element being supported on said frame, the lower end portion of said tubular element being provided with a sloping knife edge and with an opening adjacent to and spaced from said knife edge; and a closure member hingedly connected to the upper end of said tubular element and normally extending over the upper end of said tubular element. I

- 5. A; combination opener and spout for a paper carton having a pyramidal closed top comprising a multi-sided horizontally disposed frame having an opened top and bottom and being of a size to receivably engage therein the portion of the paper carton adjacent the top thereof, means embodying inwardly sloping tabs rising from the upperend of said frame adapted to engage said top of the paper carton so as to; support said frame on said paper carton, an upwardly'sloping tubular element disposed so as to have'the portion adjacent one end thereof below the upper end of and Within said frame and the portion adjacent the other end thereof; extending above said frame, said tubular element being supported on said frame and formed integrally therewith, the lower end' portion of said tubular element being provided with a sloping knife edgeand with an opening adjacent to and spaced from said knife edge, a closure member hingedly connected to'the upper end of said tubular element and normally extending over the upper end of said tubular element, and hand grip means on opposed portions of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 1, 

1. A COMBINATION OPENER AND SPOUT FOR A PAPER CARTON HAVING A PYRAMIDAL CLOSED TOP COMPRISING A MULTI-SIDED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FRAME HAVING AN OPENED TOP AND BOTTOM AND BEING OF A SIZE TO RECEIVABLY ENGAGE THEREIN THE PORTION OF THE PAPER CARTON ADJACENT THE TOP THEREOF, MEANS RISING FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID FRAME ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID TOP OF THE PAPER CARTON SO AS TO SUPPORT SAID FRAME ON SAID PAPER CARTON, A TUBULAR ELEMENT DISPOSED SO AS TO HAVE THE PORTION ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF BELOW THE UPPER END OF AND WITHIN SAID FRAME AND THE PORTION ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF EXTENDING ABOVE SAID FRAME, SAID ELEMENT BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME, THE LOWER END PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT BEING PRO- 